The University of Toronto Launches High Performance Swimming Centre

The training environment for Canada’s top swimmers receives a huge boost today, as the University of Toronto confirms the establishment of a High Performance Swimming Centre led by world-class swim coach John Rodgers of Australia.

Made possible by a partnership with Swimming Canada, Swim Ontario, the Canadian Sport Centre Ontario (CSCO) and the University, the new centre creates a resident training program for high performance athletes, with dedicated leadership by Rodgers, training time in U of T’s Olympic pool and a suite of services offered through CSCO.

Rodgers has been the head coach of the Albany Creek Swim Club in Brisbane, Australia, since 1999 and as led several swimmers to the Olympic podium over the past 25 years. Most recently, he coached Kylie Palmer and Bronte Barratt to a gold medal and world record performance in the women’s 4x200m freestyle at the 2008 Olympic Games. He was also instrumental in Leith Brodie’s bronze medal performance in the 4x200m freestyle in Beijing.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the University of Toronto and for university sport in Canada,” says Byron MacDonald, head coach of U of T’s Varsity Blues swim program, which boasts more national and conference titles than any university program in the country. “John brings a proven track record of elite international performance to our already very successful varsity program, and we’re thrilled to work with him as we advance the University’s mandate to strengthen high performance sport here in Ontario.”

Throughout his coaching career in Australia, Rodgers has produced eight Olympic medals, 17 Commonwealth Games medals and one World Championships medal. He was also part of the coaching staff at the Australian Institute of Sports from 1982 to 1986.

Rodgers’ role will be to oversee the high performance program at U of T’s newly-created swimming centre, as well as to provide assistance to MacDonald for the Varsity swim program.

“The addition of a world-class coach to the Canadian swimming scene is huge,” says Pierre Lafontaine, chief executive officer of Swimming Canada. “Coaches of John’s calibre infuse the training environment with a new level of intensity, stimulating athletes to perform like never before. Under John’s leadership, this new swimming centre will also take university sport to new heights, which is crucial to the success of high performance swimming in Canada.”

In addition to two national swim centres in Montreal and Vancouver, and the two recently-established swim academies in Victoria and Calgary, the University of Toronto High Performance Swimming Centre is the result of Swimming Canada’s high performance strategy for 2012 in collaboration with Own the Podium. The focus is on servicing the country’s top athletes at every level in their quest for podium status on the international stage.

JOHN RODGERS – CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Michelle Ford
Moscow, 1980 Olympics
·         800m Free Gold Medalist
·         200m Fly Bronze Medalist
Commonwealth Games – Two-time Australian Commonwealth Games Team Member
·         200 Free Gold Medalist
·         800 Free Gold Medalist
·         200 Fly Silver Medalist
KB Games 1978
800m Free Gold Medalist & World Record

Max Metzker
Two-time Australian Olympic Team Member / Australian Swim Team Captain
Moscow, 1980 Olympics
·         1500m Free Bronze Medalist
Commonwealth Games – Two-time Australian Commonwealth Games Team Member
·         1500m Free 1978 & 1982 Gold Medalist
·         400m Free Bronze Medalist
·         4 x 200m Free Relay Gold Medalist

Graeme Brewer
Two-time Australian Olympic Team Member
Moscow, 1980 Olympics
·         200m Free Bronze Medalist
Commonwealth Games
·         200m Free Silver Medalist
·         400m Free Gold Medalist
·         4 x 100m Free Relay Gold Medalist
·         4 x 200m Free Relay Gold Medalist 

Ronald McKeon
Two-time Australian Olympic Team Member
Commonwealth Games
·         200m Free Gold Medalist
·         400m Free Gold Medalist
·         200m Free Bronze Medalist
·         4 x 200m Free Relay Gold Medalist

Rebecca Creedy
Commonwealth Games, 1998
·         100m Free Bronze Medalist
·         4 x 100m Free Relay Gold Medalist
World Championships Australian Team Member
·         50m Free Bronze Medalist

Bronte Barratt
Beijing, 2008 Olympics
·         200m Free Finalist
·         400m Free Finalist
·         4 x 200m Free Relay Gold Medalist and World Record
Commonwealth Games, 2006
·         200m Free Finalist
·         400m Free Finalist
World Championships
·         200m Free Finalist

Kylie Palmer
Beijing, 2008 Olympics
·         800m Free Finalist
·         4 x 200m Free Relay Gold Medalist and World Record
Commonwealth Games, 2006
·         800m Free Finalist

Leith Brodie
Beijing, 2008 Olympics
·         200m IM Finalist
·         4 x 100m Free Relay Bronze Medalist
·         4 x 200m Free Relay Bronze Medalist
Commonwealth Games, 2006
·         200m IM Finalist
World Championships - 2 time Australian Team Member

Trent Grimsey
World Championships Australian Team Member - Open Water 5km & 10km